The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-25
FRIGHTFUL RAILROAD DISASTER
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A Passenger Train Jumps the Track
and Crashes Through Three-Story
Brick House-The Engineer
Killed and Twelve Other
Passengers Injured.

Passengers Injured.
WASHINGTON, August l7.-rhe
few residents in the neighborhood of
the Baltimore and Ohio Y who were
on the streets at $50 this morning
witnessed a singular and startling
scene. 1t was no less than that of
train of cars leaping from the track
and rushing with the speed Of light
ming and the crash of thunderbolt
through brick house. In an instant
the train and the house were in ruins
and the track for some distance was
Uttered with debris.
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
The train to which this accident
occurred was No. 4, coming from the
West, due here at 6 20. About 6 80
it came laundering into the city over
Metropolitan Branch, and at curve
nearly a mile away from the Y began
whistling "Down brakes!' For some
reason tie brakes were not put down.
The air brakes, it was stated, did
not work, and the engineer began
blowing his distress whistle for brake
men to put on their regular brakes.
Either the brakemen did not hear the
signal or it was not given in time to
be of use. The train, flying at 8
frightful rate, came laundering down
toward the sharp curve at the Y. On
the south side Of the Y, in little
corner made by the intersection of
the tracks, was located a railroad
signal tower, brick structure three
stories high, where railroad men are
employed to regulate signals and
switches at the Y. When the train
turned the sharp curve of the Y with
fearful headway, the cars behind the
engine.hew the track and
SMASHED INTO THE SIGNAL TOWER,
and in an instant there was wreck
which for confusion has seldom been
eoualled in railroad annals. The en-
CINE was dragged from the track and
ploughed through dirt and mud dis
tance of $50 feet and rolled over.
There it lay giving forth its steam
and hot water in great jets. The
steam and hot water were blown
through house and some of the in
mates badly scalded. Near the en-
CINE lay Hamilton Brosins, the en-
gineer,
| CRUSHED AND DYING.
and his fireman with several bones
broken. But behind the engine was
a scene ofpapic ard confusion. One
car was crushed and nearly buried
under the tracks and the timbers OF
the demolished building. Two sleep
ing coaches and one passenger coach
remained on the track. The mail
car and express car and baggage car
we're rolled over and their sides were
crushed. The roof of one car pro-
traded from the ruins Of the building.
The disaster, Of course, at once
created
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
A fire alarm was sounded, which
brought the fire department and po-
lice to the scene. Ambulances were
hurriedly sent for, and corps of
physicians came, summoned from
every direction. Many injured pas.
senoers we're removed and taken to
neighboring houses, or to stores Or to
hospitals. In this way eighteen or
twenty people were got out Of the
wreck. Some of them were only
slightly injured, while others suffered
with bones broken and bodies badly
bruised and cut.
IN THE SIGNAL TOWER,
on the upper floor, in an observatory
where VIM. Baxter, a railroad signal
man was at work. On the ground
floor Joseph Haley, ayoung man en-
ployed by the railroad company was
engaged cleaning lamps. Baxter, it
appears, realized the impending dan
ger in time. He gave shout to Ha-
ley and leaped from the tower to the
ground. He broke his arm in the
fall and was badly shaken up, but
seems to have escaped more serious
injury. Haley, below, however, was
buried in the ruins Of the house.
When he was disinterred it was found
that the timbers had fallen so as to
protect him from the tons of brick
and mortar above him. He was bad
ly frightened and bruised and blind
ed by lime and plaster.